The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1887-07-28
"GATH" INTERVIEWS THE MANAGER
OF A RICH NEW YORK HOUSE.

Extracts from the Conversation of a Bush
traordinary. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Rib
bons-Best Months for Trade.
"What is the greatest fact in the dry
goods business?''
"The greatest recent fact is the appro-
priation of the silk trade by the Americans.
Nearly all the silks used are now made in
this country, whereas it was supposed pre-
postcrous twenty years ago for the Ameri-
cans to undertake to weave silk. Not only
has this work been done by American
capital, but it has brought to the country
foreigners who had failed on the other
side of the ocean, and have replaced them
selves in wealth in this country. Here is
the firm of j.. One Of the men in that
house came to me about a fortnight ago
and said, while we were joking together:
DO you know what I am worth now? He
then told me that he was worth $500, O0O.
Now, about fifteen years ago he and his
family came to the United States bank
rupts from France. They commenced
business in New York, weaving in one
room, and if they had another room to
live in they were lucky. They went on
taking advantage of g country where
everybody wants silk dress, until they
have o magnificent factory, and as they
never lost their French Bohemian charac-
teristics, they entertain o good deal in the
open dir and after their own fashion with
musicales and breakfasts"
''Has the introduction of silk into
American manufacture cheapened the
article?'
ooh my, yes. was looking over
bill VIC had against an estate recently.
Sometimes, when there is G. large Gus
toner or large family in long relations
to the store, the account is allowed to run
over period of years, payments being
made on it from time to time. l called
the attention of my associates to the prices
, demanded for hat silk-$6 and 81 yard.
| Now about the very highest silk we sell
| is 81. so yard. If anybody comes in and
goes above So for q silk, we open our eyes
and think the world is coming to an end.
| In those old days So yard was about the
average for good silk. We sell black
silks for ninety cents yard, and they go
| even lover than that"
| "W-lat has caused the enormous con-
| sumpt on of these silks?'
"The democratic habits and feeling of
| equality; every servant girl, every shop
| girl, wants q silk dress, and she wants to
| Lyons are ladies seen on the streets
| wearing silks. So America supplies the
| most magnificent market perhaps ON the
| globe for cheap silks, and New York city
| leads tie country. The women here want
| to he Stylish"
''Do you HOW sell as much broadcloth
| as formcrly?'
"No. The only persons who buy
| broQdcloth suits now are those who want
to wear cloth six years. Those old
| fashioned people are very scarce. Light
| figured goods, such as the Americans
mako or the French or the Germans and
| English suit these times much better than
| heavy, stiff broadcloths. Consequently,
| the English broadcloth trade has suffered,
not from competition, for they still do
! about I'll there is of it. 1t has been cut
| down by want of consumption. The
| Americans wear checks, figures, mixed
| goods, which are not expected to last more
| than n year"
GLOW do you divide the dry goods bust
nees in relative Importance of branches?n
"At the head is the silk department.
Next come dress goods. Finally we put
housekeeping goods, such as tablecloths,
napkins, blankets. Silk still being about
the highest in price and the most in de-
department the highest
'Do the Americans make many rib
bons?''
''They make cheap ribbons, gay rib
bons, those things which look pretty, but
they do not go into the Swiss and French
ribbon business, with very elaborate bro
| caded and embossed designs. The
American taste is getting very near the
! American way Of manufacture For
good while sensible women would not buy
American silks, and so they had to buy
them under the delusion that they were
foreign silks. When they found out that
they had been cheated they had to
come in"
(which are the best months in the
year for business in New York city, and
| which arc the worst?'
"The best month is December. Christ
mas and New Years together mako uni
versal holiday. The Hebrews are as stout
| for New Years as the Christians are for
| Christmas In many cases they begin to
| buy the Christmas goods six weeks and
| two months before Christmas arrives.
January is also good month in the re-
| tail stores, because then housewives start
to make up their summer goods, and to be
ready for the incoming year, they replen-
fish their linen closets, overlook their bed
ding, tear down their curtains, etc. Feb
ruary is little less effective than Janu-
airy. The three summer months show
the greatest shrinkage, or rather from
| July to September. "-"Gath' in Cincin-
! natl Enquirer.